[Earth-L]the Swimmer of Deepnothing and his associates!the Swimmer of DeepnothingCrunch Writeup:KORE has her barbs in him...
Originally named Arthur Karen, the Swimmer of Deepnothing is over a hundred and thirty years old, but physically is still a fit and Hale man in his twenties. As an Ogremagus, his body only begins to fail a few days before old age claims him—-and that, clearly, has yet to happen!

He and Qishshut were an elderly gay couple, that married as soon as American law allowed such a thing. Their dedication to each other was evident. They’d been together over fifty years, by that point.

Then, the Day of Ogrefalling happened. Snatched up by the jaws of Urizen and infected with Ogresymbiosis, the Swimmer of Deepnothing became an Ogremagus, just as his husband became an Ogresymbiont. Shortly thereafter, the Swimmer budded off an Ogre Doll he named Ramsey.

The Swimmer of Deepnothing was one of the pioneers in the establishing of a global Demiogre civilization. Furthermore, he was one of Earth-L’s first Demiogre oneirkinetics, and could even physically enter the Hibernating Realms (the Prime Dream-Resonance of Earth-L).

Unfortunately, it was while exploring the Hibernating Realms that the Swimmer of Deepnothing met his doom, in the shape of KORE. KORE, an oneiric cosmic entity desiring transformation into a higher-order intelligence, decided to hollow out the Swimner of Deepnothing to ‘wear’ him as a meat-puppet. She nearly succeeded.

The Swimmer of Deepnothing’s husband, Qishshut, at that time possessed a starryfire gem, and could have engaged in mental combat to protect his beloved. In a moment of cowardice...he fled. The Swimmer’s psychic screams filled the aether, and KORE laughed. The Swimmer’s higher brain functions were cauterized and KORE prepares to injectva small piece of herself 8ntonthe Swimmer’s emptied brain...when...

It was too late, though. The Swimmer of Deepnothing would never recover. He no longer recognized his own husband, no longer knew how to speak, no longer knew even who or what he was. The Swimmer merely existed 8n a fuzzy moment of ‘eternal now-ness’, an unending fugue that never varies.

Qishshut and little Ramsey now take obsessively attentive care for the Swimmer.

Of course, escaping the attentions of something as vast as KORE is never so simple. In the Swimmer’s case, a door into the ruins of his consciousness was left behind by KORE. Of course, KORE can only Initiate a possession-attempt but the once...but, she may have found a way AROUND this limitation.

Ramsey, the Swimmer’s Ogre DollCrunch Writeup:...and even Ramsey is in KORE’s unknowing service.
An Ogre Doll, Ramsey began life as a literal tumor on the side of the Swimmer of Deepnothing. The tumor kept growing, and, eventually fell clean off. A few days later, Ramsey hatched, ready to serve his ‘greatersourceself’.

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QishshutCrunch Writeup:Another pawn of KORE.
Originally named Robert Karen, Qishshut is over one hundred and twenty years old, but physically is still a fit and Hale man in his twenties. As an Ogresymbiont, his body only begins to fail a few days after old age claims him—-and that, clearly, has yet to happen!

He and the Swimmer of Deepnothing were an elderly gay couple that married as soon as American law allowed such a thing to happen. It wasn’t needed, as the two’d been together for over fifty years, but, the symbolism of it all mattered to both men.

Then, the Day of Ogrefalling happened. Snatched up by the jaws of Urizen, Qishshut was infected with Ogresymbiosis and became an Ogresymbiont, just as his husband became an Ogremagus.

Qishshut, along with the Swimmer of Deepnothing, is one of the founders of modern Demiogre culture, language and spirituality. Furthermore, he eagerly helped his husband literally physical map out Earth-L’s Hibernating Realms. It was a marriage full of excitement and adventure.

Then, both men met KORE, and Qishshut’s cowardice damned the Swimmer of Deepnothing to non-sentience. KORE, an oneiric cosmic entity desiring transformation into a higher-order intelligence, decided to hollow out the Swimner of Deepnothing to ‘wear’ him as a meat-puppet.

KORE wished a new puppet, and chose the Swimmer of Deepnothing. Normally, neither man had a hope in hell of resisting, but a starryfire gem had been in Qishshut’s belongings and could have been used to fight KORE off. However, seeing KORE’s oneiric immensity, Qishshut panicked and fled, only to return at the last moment to drive KORE off.

The damage was done, however. Cursing himself for his weakness at the Swimmer’s moment of need, Qishshut mutely took up caring for the Swimmer and accompanying him wherever he goes.

Of course, escaping the attentions of something as vast as KORE is never so simple. In Qishshut’s case, KORE left a kernel of dark wisdom, a process via which the Swimmer might be restored—-which would, in actuality, finally finish the possession-process KORE had started then abruptly stopped. Qishshut thinks this idea his own, and broods on it, constantly.

Last edited by Hoid on Sun Jan 27, 2019 10:23 pm, edited 9 times in total.

[The Forever Tree’s parallel-Earths]The Tlolkku Observer-Generals Part I of III.
Here’re the Tlolkku Observer-Generals of the parallel-Earths of the Forever Tree. Crunch Writeup:BEHOLD...!

Earth-A:Sollune.
“Burning bright”. These words guide Sollune, Ho has become fused with one starryfire gem and obsesses about finding others.

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Earth-B:Metamorphilosopher.
A fervent user of the Tlolkku drug metamorphilosophy, Metamorphilosopher is a shapeshifting of limited power, but great versitility. A great-granddaughter of the previous Earth-B Observer-General, Metamorphilosopher gained her position in the traditional Tlolkku manner—-namely, assassinating the old codger and pinning the blame on someone else.

Though born female, Metamorphilosopher has switched genders so many times that gender has become meaningless to her.

Metamorphilosopher is obsessed with capturing and vivisection the Dream Moth—-and giving herself his IMMENSE power. Lirunaur is aware of this plan of hers, and has covertly acted to ensure each attempt by Metamorphilosopher to successfully carry through this agenda fails miserably—-all without implicating Lirunaur in the least. Still, Metamorphilosopher continues, and may one day successfully attract the Earth-B imperiex’s attention—-a result she will quickly regret.

Earth-C:ELL.
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Earth-D:Bloodywulf.
He has a lion’s mane of upwards-sweeping hair! He smokes cigars and broods a lot! He whines about how everything is unjust and how X-treeeeeeem it’s made him!

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Earth-E:Cipher.
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Earth-F:Raptor.
“Control the skies, control the ground.” This statement is dear to Raptor’s heart.

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Earth-G:Deiphyla.
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Earth-H:She Who Comprehends.
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Earth-I:Osseus Shell.
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Earth-J:Skiesserene.
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Earth-K:Gigantomorph.
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Earth-L:Owtsydr.We are the supreme form of life, the Tlolkku tell themselves, and all other living things exist only at our sufferance. Other beings are but motes, here and gone, while we endure forever. Despite this being a frankly false belief, it nevertheless pervades Tlolkku culture and civilization. They even view the Sunsphinx as mere pretenders to Tlolkku glory. It’s why Tlolkku hate Starvampires so much—-the only equals the Tlolkku accept are their undead cousins, and this is a blight they cannot accept.

Owtsydr, therefore, has committed the ultimate sin: he has more than accepted a non-Tlolkku as his equal, he’s her mate. While Tlolkku lack marriage as humans understand it, mated pairs are something sacred to them. It acknowledges someone else as being more than just your equal, but as a trusted equal. And, in the academic viper-pit that is Tlolkku society, this is a powerful statement. Placeholder.

Earth-M:Morphean.
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Earth-N:Romularus.
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Earth-O:der Hexengeist.
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Earth-P:4-Saykinh.
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Earth-Q:Nemesis/Sun.
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Earth-R:the Manichaean.
I am a loyal son of my people, the people. i am afloat. help me i’m drowning. I have advanced science greatly with my daring researches into previously forbidden territory. its worming it’s way inside now i can’t find my way out help. I am celebrated by all—-which is why I am appointed Observer-General of Designate-R. i can feel it’s jaws in my brain. It is a great honor. EEEEEEEEE I am well-pleased by these accolades. let me go let me go let me go! My life is exactly as it should be. phthaghn. Nothing is amiss. help me. Everything is fine, thank you for asking.gods of my ancestors i am not as i am as i am not. I am overjoyed at the benevolence shown me by Supreme Scientist Lirunaur. STOP STRUGGLING AND THE PAIN WILL CEASE. Happy. yes. no. no! Yes. YES. Happy. FHTHAGHN.

Earth-S:Gargant.
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Earth-T:Hydra.
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Earth-U:Antaeus.
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Earth-V:That Which Stands Apart From all the Others.
That Which Stands Apart From All the Others is actually TWO entities, puppetted from afar by one hostile non-Tlolkku Intelligence, which has effortlessly infiltrated Tlolkku civilization and society. Placeholder.

Earth-W:Bahamoath.
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Earth-X:the Runesmith.
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Earth-Y:He Who Devours Thoughts.
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Earth-Z:Udaeus.
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Last edited by Hoid on Mon Jan 28, 2019 2:43 pm, edited 45 times in total.

[The Forever Tree’s Perpendiculars]The Tlolkku Observer-Generals. Part II of III.
Here’re the Tlolkku Observer-Generals of five of the six Perpendiculars of the Forever Tree. Placeholder.Crunch Writeup:Here—-...!

Perpendicular-3:Ixion.Ixion, Ixion,
Flew too close to the sun.
Ixion, Ixion,
Nowhere left to run.
Ixion, Ixion,
Leader of the pack.
Ixion, Ixion,
Never coming back.
Ixion, Ixion,
Slit his own damn throat,
Ixion, Ixion,
When he tried to fly that boat.
Ixion, Ixion,
Killed everyone of them.
Ixion, Ixion,
Exiled to the realm of men.
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Perpwndicular-4:Necronaut.Once, I was like you: alive. Vibrant. Happy, even. I had ambition and intelligence and the will to succeed.

Then, I died. Then, I came back, changed.

Among the True People, the soul, even the very concept of the soul, is considered a dangerous myth. One...simply ceases to be, upon death. One just...winks out, gone. Forever. Resurrection technology has never been our forte. The worthy lived; the unworthy died: why resuscitate the unworthy? Tlolkku never sought such knowledge, for, we thought, there was no knowledge to gain in the FIRST place.

Oh, how we were wrong. How wrong I was, to even think such foolishness.

I died, you see, and the men in dark cloaks with sharp blades came for me. I tried to pretend it was all some mad fancy...but it wasn’t. No matter how much I denied it, there it was, staring me in the face. I protested, but it merely shook its head, saying, You cannot fight this. The nameless weaver has ended your narrative. It’s time to move on.And with those words, we were off, racing down, down, DOWN!Placeholder.

Perpendicular-5:the Forsaken Disciple.
Never Let It Be Said That Kknowledge Comes Without It’s Due Share Of Suffering.
In My Hubris, I Looked Into TheABYSS And TheABYSS Tore Out My Soul And Replaced It With A Tainited, Empty Core. Placeholder.

Last edited by Hoid on Mon Jan 28, 2019 2:49 pm, edited 5 times in total.

[Multiverse-wide]A pair of Tlolkku communications.”To our lord, mighty Lirunaur,
“Our research into cosmic prognostication has reached a most final conclusion. All our test-subjects are dead. Making contact with our counterparts below burnt out their brains and rendered them vegetative. No attempt at neural regeneration has succeeded.

“But our project has also been successful. It is my pleasure to announce a successful First Contact with what we refer to as Multiverse-2. We sent a series of messages, and received a series of coherent replies:
“Querry:Can you understand us?
“Reply:We hear you. Little cousins. Little reflections. Pure images of a warped mirror. Yes, we hear you.
“Querry:Is it possible to have a face-to-face meeting? We are most eager to see how you...we...have progressed.
“Reply:Yes.
“Querry:Weve marked a location of the dimensional map we sent you. Is this spot agreeable for our historic summit?
“Reply:To stand in the light is agreeable. Wherever you choose is agreeable. We are most eager to see what you have, up there amidst the brilliance.
“Querry:We have little in the way of professional diplomats. Do you find it agreeable if we send a diplomatically programmed robot along with our own people?
“Reply:Send whomever you wish. It is all the same, to us.

“They have agreed to a meeting! How fortuitous! We await your commands before proceeding further.
For the glory of the True People!”

—-

“This is Supreme Scientist Lirunaur, to Project: MIRROR-IMAGE,
“We are most pleased by this turn of events. Do not proceed any further until my negotiators arrive. They’ll be arriving via diplomatic ark. You are to extend the diplomats a warm, friendly welcome. They will be essential to the next step in the process.

“Promotions for everyone involved are assured. Lock down the facility, enter quarantine protocols. The diplomats will be bringing news of reassignments for all non-essential personnel, as is customary.

“We expect great results from further exploration and exploitation of this mission.
For the glory of the True People.”

—-

”It is done. Tlolkku base firebombed. No survivors. No distrsss call was sent; the deception worked perfectly. Recommend further observation of the Tlolkku’s involvement in the Roots.”

Last edited by Hoid on Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

A Tale of One Man’s Descent into Hell...and His Eventual Re-Emergence!Crunch Writeup:Here.
Being born in the Infinite Roots means life is a harsh taskmaster, at best. Born in Simshu, a agonizingly dimensionally compressed half-universe, Zazu Sha grew up in a world where cause and effect had broken down. Time happened out sequence, the future creates the past and effect produces cause. A nonsensical reality where nothing is dependable and nothing stays the same from moment to moment.

Amidst the blackened ruins of Simshu’s New York City, Zazu Sha learned at an early age to never trust anyone. Perpetually on the run from cannibal gangs, hideous, sludge-covered Death Titans and warlords filled with nonsensical visions of utter insanity, he discovered nothing could be depended upon. If you don’t take something for yourself, then you’ll get nothing.

When the sun disappeared for a year and a half and a planet-killing Ice Age almost occurred, Zazu Sha ate other human beings to survive. When the Death Titans named Eastfield and Westfield set off nuclear bombs in Las Vegas, only for broken reality to say, “No, no, it actually happened on the moon”, causing the Moon Split Incident, he murdered hundreds to ensure his own safety. He even literally killed his past self, discovering Simshu ‘said’ Zazu Sha still existed, despite what feeble causality claimed. He even ate the flesh of the undead and suffered as lesions opened up all over his body as a result.

In his dreams, a raven shrieked, burnt-out eyes staring malevolently into Zazu Sha’s soul. Upon waking, Zazu Sha decided to turn this nightmare into a weapon. Donning a black costume with a raven motif, he became a fierce feared killer and marauder. After that, the dream of the raven was the only dream Zazu Sha ever had.

To Zazu Sha, this was just the way things were. It was the only way.

Then...he saw them.

One night as the sun split in half, set, rose again unharmed and then set once more, a rift in space opened and something impossibly beautiful came through, a shining figure of light that hurt Zazu Sha’s eyes to gaze upon. This god—-what ELSE could it be?—-looked down and saw Zazu Sha...then turned his gaze on the rest of Simshu. In those eyes, Zazu Sha saw something new: he saw pity. He saw compassion. The figure reached out to talk to Zazu Sha when the rift disgorged more strange visitors, other gleaming paragons who dragged the first figure away.

As the rift closed, an apocalyptic burst of light screamed down upon Simshu, and it burned out Zazu Sha’s eyes, blackened his skull and burnt away his face. He fell to the ground in screaming agony. What allowed him to conquer the pain was the realization that strange figure was from a better place, a safer place—-a happy place. At that shattering realization sank in, Zazu Sha howled inarticulate rage at the chaotic skies.

Zazu Sha now knows Somewhere Else exists. He now knows happiness is achievable there. He knows the shining god left Simshu to suffer. Zazu Sha, in that mad moment of inchoate hatred, vowed to find this Somewhere Else and burn it to the ground.

He searches now, Zazu Sha, for a way up...up to storm the gates of Heaven.

[Earth-I]Superhumanity. Part One of three. The Ir/Maker and Urut-nnil.
—————Who is the Ir/Maker? What is Urut-nnil?
Short answer: the Ir/Maker is the sundered consciousness of a severely wounded higher-order Intelligence. Urut-nnil is the severed body of a massively injured higher-order Intelligence.

Long answer:
The Ir/Maker and Urut-nnil are the same entity severely disjointed mentally into two aspects, by its own inefficient creation by the Worldfather and also due to an injury in a galaxy-shattering battle with Aum. The Worldfather rushed the creation of many of His final higher-order intelligences, leaving in massive flaws He otherwise would have corrected before awakening His creations.

As a result, Urut-nnil is so inefficiently built its own powers were tearing it to pieces. The Incarnae, Avatars and Disciples were the solution...as was separating its consciousness and flesh unique beings. The only way to survive, in other words, was to willingly give itself Disdociative Identity Disorder.

—————So, they’re basically the same being?
Short answer: Kinda. Sorta. Not really.

Long answer: It’s much more complicated than that. They certainly began as one entity, but the inefficiency of its creation, combined with the battle with Aum, led to a fracture that, in some ways, is still deepening and widen8ng. The Ir/Maker is the main consciousness, with the Incarnae being lesser slivers of the entity’s self-image. Urut-nnil is the hulking, shuddering mass of a body, a whirling mess of eyes and mouths and writhing hands.

They can’t exist without each other. Without Urut-nnil, the Ir/Maker dies and its memetic core passes on to whatever mysterious fate awaits cosmic entities and higher-order intelligences. Without the Ir/Maker, Urut-nnil becomes a bestial, whirling congery of human-like body parts, a great pile of biological nonsense compelled to grow infinitely.

—————Where do these two come from?
Short answer: The Worldfather, otherwise known as He-who-is-now-Dead.

Long answer. Before despair overwhelmed Him and He ended His own life, the Worldfather had enough compassion left in Him to create a series of ‘replacements’. Much weaker than Himself, each of these entities was, by definition, a higher-order intelligence. Urut-nnil was one such replacement. The Solar Lion was another.

Urut-nnil was given a purpose: travel to Earth-I and assist humanity to ascend to the status of Space Gods. Urut-nnil obediently did as commanded, but was ambushed along the way of Aum, another higher-order Intelligence. Though the Ir/Maker will never know the reason why Aum attacked it, the result was Urut-nnil successfully arriving at Earth-I...hemorrhaging power and dying of the cosmic equivalent of a giant head-wound.

Everything that followed was Urut-nnil successfully saving its own life...at terrible cost.

—————What’s their purpose, that the Worldfather gave them?
To stir the pot, to brew up chaos and to reduce Man to a more primitive lifestyle. The Ir/Maker carefully chose each of its aspects based on this imperative, this need to cause disorder and panic. It is obsessed with this task, yet must also prevent humanity from destroying itself, with a nuclear war or otherwise. It is a fine balancing-act.

The criteria for an aspect is as follows: selfish, but not necessarily evil. Uncaring, but not necessarily cruel. Without remorse or regret, but not necessarily a sociopath.

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—————...and something like that is an imperiex?!!
Unfortunately, yes. Consider: the Solar Lion wishes the multiverse to continue. Sometimes, that means ugly things need doing. Sometimes, things like the Ir/Maker are a necessary evil. Placeholder.

Last edited by Hoid on Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:29 pm, edited 12 times in total.

[Earth-I]Superhumanity. Part two of three. The Incarnae.
—————What’re Incarnae?
Short answer: Incarnae are the strongest superhumans native to Earth-I.

Long answer: Urut-nnil cannot contain its own powers inside of itself; this—-co,boned with severe injuries from a battle with another higher-order intelligence named Aum—-caused it to split itself between its body (Urut-nnil) and its consciousness (the Ir/Maker). However, even this division was not enough, and further division was immediately required.

It found five individuals, mundane human beings who would carry out the Ir/Maker’s design for humanity and gave each one fifty one ‘shavings’ of its power: Immortal Brands and Immortal Staves.

But even this distribution of power was not enough for the Ir/Maker to safely process its own energies. Each Incarna was ordered to find another mundane human being of like mindset and bring these people before Urut-nnil. There, the Incarnae had some of their powers shunted into these new individuals, creating Avatars of each Incarna.

This was enough to ‘bleed away’ the dangerous excess of energy for the Ir/Maker, but Incarnae and Avatars found themselves crippled with pain. They must divide their powers...or die. Each Avatar took their master’s Immortal Brands and gave one Immortal Brand to one mundane human being. Once all the brands were gifted, the Incarnae and their Avatars were now in balance.

An Incarna is a self-aware aspect of the Ir/Maker, blessed with an Immortal Staff and vast powers. Incarnae are the most powerful superhumans native to Earth-I.

Each Incarna has a self-aware sub-aspect called an Avatar. Avatars contain a portion of their Imcarna’s immense, inchoate Powers, and serve their patrons out of instinct, burnt onto their cortexes by the Ir/Maker. An Avatar is nowhere near as powerful as their Incarnae.

Each Incarna has fifty much weaker minions known as Disciples. The lowest rung of the ladder of being that is Urut-nnil, each Disciple possesses a single Immortal Brand. This gives them superpowers. These powers are weaker than Avatars, and’re the same powers for all Disciples of a specific Incarna.

—————What is an Immortal Brand? What is an Immortal Staff? How does one acquire them? What do they do?
An Immortal Staff is a quarterstaff-like implement containing a large portion of the powers of the Ir/Maker. Each Incarna possess a single Immortal Staff, which is the source of their powers.

An Immortal Brand is a dagger-like implement that likewise empowers Disciples.

How does one acquire such potent items? You are given them by the Ir/Maker in the case of a new Incarna, or are given them by an Avatar in the case of new Disciples.

—————Why were the Incarnae chosen? What does the Ir/Maker intend them to do?
Short answer: Destruction. To reduce human population. To send Man back to pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

The long answer: Urut-nnil isn’t a benevolent force in any manner we’d understand it—-Urut-nnil, despite swearing to safeguard the Forever Tree (in general) and Earth-I (in particular), it does not do this out of anything remotely resemblibg compassion. It does this because it must. And to its alien mindset, “Necessity is the mother of invention” is taken to its logical conclusion. The human beings that survive the Incarnae Will, in Urut-nnil’s mind, be better able to survive any outside enemy might be thrown at them. Placeholder.

—————Why would anyone follow through with instructions like that?!!
Short answer: They were carefully chosen by the Ir/Maker for psychological suitability. It deliberately chose s****y people to empower.

—————Who are these Incarnae, anyway?Ba is the Incarna of Clay.Crunch Writeup:

Ka is the Incarna of Stone.Crunch Writeup:

Khaibit is the Incarna of Glass.Crunch Writeup:

Ren is the Incarna of Iron.Crunch Writeup:Taaa-daaa!
Able to mind control other beings in a variety of different telepathic means, Red can also turn to iron. His Immortal Staff—-the Weapon of Potentates!—-can create a limited array of very power energy constructs. His Avatar is Wyrmking, a more generalized telepath, whereas his fifty Disciples are linked telepathically with non-sentient animals.

Sheut is the Incarna of Bronze.Crunch Writeup:

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Last edited by Hoid on Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:16 pm, edited 9 times in total.

[Earth-I]Superhumanity. Part three of three.
—————What are Disciples?
Short answer: see the post above this one.

Long answer: see the post above this one.

—————How is a Disciple chosen?
Short answer: by an Incarna’s Avatar.

Long answer: an Incarna’s Avatar does the choosing, but the actual Immortal Brand is given to the Disciple-to-be by the Incarna himself or herself. The criteria for creating Disciples are non-existent, making it a crapshoot at best, a disaster at worst. Some Avatars try to pick Disciples with destructive or chaotic bents, but sometimes they choose Disciples for much nobler reasons. These means that some Disciples have consciences, whilst others don’t.

Disciples have no more free will, but they can choose how they carry out their orders. Some Disciples of a benevolent bent twist the letter of an Incarna’s order so successfully it actually backfires on the Incarna in question! A Disciple doing this must be careful, however, as Incarnae take none too kindly to this sort of behavior.

—————Can you steal an Immortal Brand and forcibly make yourself a Disciple?Yes, you actually can do this! It is rare, however, and has only successfully happened a small handful of times.

—————Are there any superhumans native to Earth-I not connected to the Ir/Maker?
Sure! They’re just well-hidden, considering the antipathy mundane humanity has the wildly destructive, feuding minions of the Ir/Maker. Few will make waves, hoping to not get up in the hysteria.

Cyborgs, disembodied brains, humans-turned-thoughtform, nephilim and thoughtforms-turned-human all exist on Earth-I. Three Sunsphinx live full-time on Earth-I. Alien/human h6brids exist. And as for Exotics, well, each is a special case, by definition.

Last edited by Hoid on Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:28 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[Earth-J]The universe of Earth-J. Part one of three: a general overview.
—————What’s the current year?
2018 CE.

—————When did superhumans first appear?
The first sidhe and pooka appeared in 1999 CE, when the curiously alien Forever Enigma manifested in the atmosphere of Earth in the Earth-J universe.

—————What is the Forever Enigma? Where did it come from?
The Forever Enigma and it’s associated divers come from the Beyond and are not native to the Forever Tree. A vast psychic machine, protected by an endless mass of Moon-divers and Sun-divers, the Forever Enigma is sentient and trying to solve its own essential riddle: Who am I? What am I? What is my purpose?

As it is from the Beyond, the Forever Enigma is not ultimately of He-who-is-now-Dead, and indeed has qualities alien to most of the Forever Tree.

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—————Where is the Forever Enigma, now?
Chicago, Illinois, USA. It first was in New York City...then was in Berlin, Germany...then was in Tokyo, Japan...and now has come to rest in Chicago. It’s public knowledge the great engine will move on in a year or two, so, Chicago’s residents silently put up with the damn thing.

—————Tell me about the sidhe.
The sidhe (‘SHEE’) are Earth-J superhumans (‘diverhosts’) who’ve survived assimilation with a Sun-diver with their human consciousness intact. Wildly beautiful in a feral manner, sidhe are blessed with an Oneiric Raiment of savage grace. Sidhe powers are all focused through their Oneiric Raiments and thus have no genuine solidity to them.

Sidhe are beautiful, sidhe are graceful...sidhe are feral. Underneath the civilized facade lurks something wild and unnameable. All sidhe Oneiric Raiments are those of graceful, elegant mythological and phantasmagorical creatures. The laws of physics seemingly don’t apply to sidhe Oneiric Raiments, and even as they tear you to pieces they seem stately and serene.

—————Tell me about goblins.
Goblins are Earth-J superhumans (‘diverhosts’) successfully possessed and who’ve lost control to a Sun-diver. Shrinking considerably and gain8ng a savant-like aptitude with technology, goblins are wild creatures of chaos and misrule. Unlike sidhe, however, goblins have no Oneiric Raiment...and thus, lack all subtlety.

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—————Tell me about the pooka.
The pooka are Earth-J superhumans (‘diverhosts’) who’ve survived assimilation with a Moon-diver with their human consciousness intact. Giants with the heads of horses, pooka are immensely strong and blessed with an Oneiric Raiment of brute strength. Pooka powers (minus their very real horse-like heads) are all focused through their Oneiric Raiments and thus have no genuine solidity to them. These powers are blunt and direct and never possess any subtlety to them.

Pooka are hulking, pooka are slow...pooka are explosively angry, as angering a pooka is supremely easy. Never too civilized to begin with, pooka Oneiric Raiments are those of savage, blunt predatory beasts, some real,some from the depths of madness and fever dreams. These Oneiric Raiments are destructive and have no peaceful applications.

—————Tell me about minotaurs.
Minotaurs are Earth-J superhumans (‘diverhosts’) possessed by and who’ve lost control to Moon-divers. Instead of horse-heads, minotaurs have the heads of aurochs, with a violent irritable temperment to match this visage. They have no Oneiric Raiment, being simple, pure brute force.

Placeholders.

—————Tell me about Moon-divers and Sun-divers.
Moon-divers and Sun-divers are the alien occupants of the Forever Enigma, ethereal living geometries that either absorb light (Moon) or generate it (Sun). Unable to exist outside the Forever Enigma due to how foreign the divers’ home multiverse is to the Forever Tree, divers discovered that, by merging with humans they could exist outside their sapient vessel.

However: divers are NOT thoughtforms, they are merely extremely alien and foreign to all forms of life in the Forever Tree. Effects that affect thoughtforms fail to function on divers, while effects that affect divers fail to work on thoughtforms!

—————What is an Oneiric Raiment?
An Oneiric Raimemt is an illusionary visage so real-seeming it has quasi-physical effects. Each diverhost has a single Oneiric Raiment, which is radically different from their human-like baseform. While wearing their Oneiric Raiments, even their personalities change!

Oneiric Raiments are telepathic in nature. As such, they are only quasi-real, and cannot genuinely affect reality. A pooka with crushing jaws in his Oneiric Raiment is actually just biting someone—-but the Raiment convinces both pooka and victim that crushing pressure is being applied.

The horse-like heads of pooka and the fangs of sidhe, however, are not part and parcel of the Oneiric Raiment, and’re QUITE QUITE real.

—————That sounds...familiar.
It should. The divers of Earth-J, the Manifold Giants of Earth-K, the Ogres of Earth-L and the Titans of Perpendicular-2 all come from the same mysterious source, outside the Forever Tree on the other side of the Beyond.

But the similarity between diverhosts’ Oneiric Raiments and Manifold Giants’ Mirrors are superficial. Whereas the forms Godgiants wish up with their Mirrors are real and physically solid, an Oneiric Raiment is a ‘mere’ telepathic illusion. Thus, while a sidhe with an avian Oneiric Raiment has magnificent wings he or she cannot actually fly. A pooka whose Oneiric Raiment boasts one hundred hands doesn’t actually have one hundred hands—-just the illusion of having them.

This isn’t to say it’s easy to disbelieve such things, as Oneiric Raiments involve all five senses and can even temporarily fool machines and electronic surveillance. Furthermore, a form of hyperfocused telepathy, they can bypass physical armor and directly affect the mind.

The criteria by which a diverhost is chosen are nonexistent. The diver in question merely finds an available host not in a dangerous situation and claims them. The possession process is INCREDIBLY traumatic, and always results in a psychic clash of wills. Should the diver win, the host’s personality is consumed, and a goblin or a minotaur is the result. Should the host win, the diver’s personality is submerged, the host retains control and a sidhe or a pooka results.

On average, it is a 50/50 chance that could go either way, with no real advantages to either side in the possession process.

—————Are there superhumans on Earth-J unrelated to divers and the Forever Enigma?
Yes, there are. Known as calculationists, these people are born with superhuman levels of mathematical expertise, allowing them to do things like predict the future, read people’s surface thoughts and set off a Rube Goldberg-esque sequence of increasingly more unlikely events with some small inconsequential, initial action, such as flicking a penny at something or deliberately mispronouncing a single word in conversation.

Calculationist heritage is passed on through the father. Calculationists can become diverhosts, but, if the diver wins out, all calculationist abilities are lost forever

Earth-J also has nephilim, and, yes, some nephilim are calculationusts and/or diverhosts.

And, as always, Exotics can be found, here and there.

Last edited by Hoid on Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:05 pm, edited 7 times in total.

[Earth-T]Superhumanity! Part one of two.
—————What are Embodiments?
Unique to Earth-T, Embodiments are a fusion of psychic human with shar thoughtforms. This creates a powerful fusion, the resulting being stronger than its individual components. The three known types of Embodiment are Avatars, Deniers and Inheritors. All three kinds of superhuman arise spontaneously from the ranks of Espers when shar thoughtforms attempt to possess them and become trapped inside the Espers’ spirit boxes

—————What are Avatars?
A type of Embodiment; Avatars represent a concept or a type of energy, Embodied in human form and gifted with extraordinary superpowers. These powers’re always related to or ‘themed’ in such a way as to best represent that concept or type of energy.

All Avatars started out as Espers.

—————What are Deniers?
In some Espers, their spirit boxes become tainted or corrupted. The resulting Embodiments personify only one subject. That is: oblivion. Nothingness. The void.

Denierscountradict. Denierscounteract. Deniersnegate, they refuse to allow superpowers to even exist. Deniers have no powers of their own, instead causing the powers of others to fail. Thankfully, this only works on the Embodied of Earth-T and Oneiric mutants from Earth-B.

All Deniers started out as Espers.

—————What are Inheritors?
A type of Embodiment, Inheritors represent a location or natural feature of the landscape, and given superpowers related to or ‘themed’ in such a way as to best represent that location or natural feature of the topography.

All Inheritors started out as Espers.

—————Is it possible to be both an Avatar AND an Inheritor?
Yes. Yes, it is. It is, however, highly unlikely, as twospirit boxes would have to be present in an Esper, in order to capture two different shar thoughtforms.

But...it has happened a handful of times. The Earth-J imperiex, for instance, is both an Avatar and an Inheritor. Then again, as an imperiex many rules break down in his presence...

—————Is it possible to be both a Denier, and...
Stop. Stop right there. The conceptual void a Denier destroys any secondary spirit boxes there might be in the Embodimemt-to-be.

—————What are Espers?
Psychic humans not yet merged with a shar thoughtform are known as Espers. Espers are weaker than Embodiments by a significant margin, but, each Esper holds a spirit box inside their minds that irresistible to shar thoughtforms. Thoughtforms enter these spirit boxes and become trapped. The resulting fusion of Esper and thoughtform is called an Embodiment.

—————What is a spirit box?
Not actually a box, a spirit box is what differentiates Earth-T’s psychics from psychics elsewhere in the Forever Tree. A spirit box is a ‘cage’, a psychic construct within the minds of Espers that serves as irresistible bait to thoughtforms of the shar type. Shar thoughtforms are irresistibly drawn to possess Espers, but instead become trapped in the spirit box. The only way ‘out’ is through fusion with the Esper—-resulting in the creation of an Embodiment of some kind.

—————Do nephilim exist on Earth-T?
Yes, they do, though only in small numbers.

—————Can nephilim form a spirit box and eventually become Embodied?
Yes. Such a thing IS possible, however unlikely it may be. A few such ‘elohim’ currently exist.

[Earth-V]Ten proclamations.The first proclamation: The Edict of Taxation Exemption.By order of His Omnipotent Majesty Imperator Jax I, first citizen of the Terran association of worlds:
All taxation on Riligar shipping is to be suspended.
Thank you all for your time.
Praise the Imperator!

-

The second proclamation: The Edict of Supression.By order of His Omnipotent Majesty Imperator Jax I, first citizen of the Terran association of worlds:
The First and Fiftieth Legions are hereby ordered to Nariligiri to suppress the unrest occurring on-planet. The First Legion and the Fiftieth Legion have been ordered to suppress the unrest as quickly and as efficiently as is possible, with as little loss of life as is possible. An Archonengine is being sent as support.
To the human citizenry of Nariligiri, His Omnipotent Majesty sends this message:
“Cease and desist all illegal demonstrations immediately. You have damaged trade with Riligar far enough. In this time of economic hardship, we find ourselves in need of Riligira goods and services. Any further illegal demonstrations harm the association and Humanity, as a whole.”
Thank you for your time.
Praise the Imperator!

-

The third proclamation: The Edict of Condemnation.By order of His Omnipotent Majesty Imperator Jax I, first citizen of the Terran association of worlds:
The cowardly attacks that resulted in the Nariligira Arcanengine’s destruction cannot go unpunished. The Imperator has ordered all Nariligira spaceports closed, and all Imperial personnel are to leave Nariligiri immediately upon receiving this edict.
Henceforth, the following three actions are to be enforced as soon as all Imperial personell are off-site:Nariligiri is under planetary interdiction.Until the cowards who destroyed the Archonengine are uncovered and brought to justice, travel to and from Nariligiri is forbidden.All Imperial aid to Nariligiri shall immediately cease, save for the most basic of humanitarianism.This embargo will end the moment the perpetrators are brought to justice.A military blockade will be set around Nariligiri.Any vessel not bearing the proper authorization will be perceived as hostile and immediately be attacked.
The Imperator thanks you for your time.
Praise the Imperator!

-

The fourth proclamation: A coded message.Willim, you’ve got to get in there and break things up. The situation on Nariligiri is getting out of hand. Protests are being held on nearby planets. We need to nip this in the bud as soon as is physically possible.
Things aren’t going well here on homeworld. Our Imperator seems to think he’s become a god of some sort! Exactly when this delusion took hold is unclear, but it seems to have started up following the visit of the Sunsphinx delegation last fall. Jax seems to think he’s omnipotent now! He won’t even exit that ridiculous armor of his, anymore.
He even sent away that winged aberration he’s been sharing his bed with. As much as I hate to admit it, Jax’s ‘visitor’ seemed to reign in his worst excesses. Now that’s gone, too.
Willim, the situation on Nariligiri is becoming dangerously toxic. Solve. It. By. Whatever. Means. Necessary!
Watcher Billion.

-

The fifth proclamation: Galactic News Network.Good Evening, this s Genettica Langscroft of Galactic News Network with your evening reports.
Civil unrest over the Riligira tax exemption edict continues to unravel in the Sabsarruute Sector. Beginning on the planet Nariligiri, protests and demonstrations are now occurring on over a hundred Human-dominant planets. Six Legions have been dispatched by the Imperator to, as he puts it, “Calm the situation down before it explodes out of control.” Demonstrator ‘leadership’—-such as it is—-calls this a political maneuver designed to shield the public concerning recent accusations of anti-Human atrocities allegedly undertaken by the Riligira.
Earlier today, Imperial Secretary DeMoux stated that the Imperator was ‘working feverishly’ to end this unrest by diplomatic means. This, amidst persistent rumors Jax has suffered some kind of mental breakdown. Sources inside the Terran Palace indicate the Imperator is suffering from extreme delusions of grandeur and has, i quote, ‘Lost his grip on reality’. Secretary DeMoux has consistently called these charges baseless slander on the part of opposition leadership.
More on this story as it updates.
In other news...

-

The sixth proclamation: A message. A reply.Jason,
Do you need help? I can call in the Sungods. I can come and help, directly! Why are you shutting me out? If you need assistance...
Joshua

Joshua,
I am quite fine. The situation is under control. If I can’t tend my own household then I’m little better than that coward on Designate-Z. I do not need your help. I am quite capable of handling this, on my own.
Jason.

-

The seventh proclamation: This just in!Hello, I’m Archivald Collinswoeth filling in for Genettica Lanfscroft, and this is Galactic News Network.
We interrupt your standard programming with an important update on the anti-Riligira protests occurring on the Sabsarruute Sector and parts of the Millner Sector. Open fighting is now occurring on Nariligiri and seven other planets. The Mesh for both Sectors has gone dark, so getting an accurate accounting is difficult, but Icon reporters have been able to confirm the riots appear organized and coordinated.
Though the Imperator has yet to issue a public statement, we at Galactic News Network can confirm two more Legions recently left port to head to the hotzone. Imperial Secretary DeMoux has declined our offer for an official statement.
It’s expected the Committee will be holding an emergency session, but as to what result that will have is unclear.
More on this as it updates. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

-

The eighth proclamation: A coded message.Turn on GNN right now, Harold. Our Imperator has just declared himself a god! I told you he’s not been well! Now look at this bulls**t! The Committee Ministers are frothing at the mouth. At least they’ve not called for Inquiry, thank God.
DeMoux, he’s gone mad. I know he’s been your mentor for decades, but he just declared himself a living deity! Maybe the Sunsphinx used a memetic weapon. Maybe those undead reptiles in the Outer Edges finally managed to get through Veiledwatch. In the end, it doesn’t matter. We have to stop him, DeMoux. Now!
Yes, Harold, I’m well are I just suggested treason. I’m well aware I could hang, for this. But, for the love of God, DeMoux, this cannot stand!
Join me before it’s too late...

-

The ninth proclamation: gigastation alert priority alphathis isgigastation one. catastrophic system failure in veiledwatch protocol is underway. catastrophic system failure in coinwatch protocol in effect.
the mesh will be undergoing severe outages within the new few terran minutes. it is unclear how much of the system will survive these outages, as the mesh was never designed with this level of catastrophe in mind.
priority one recommendation: voluntarily deactivate the mesh. decouple terra from the network. Issue a recall to all icons to return to hub-one immediately.
awaiting instructions.

-

The tenth proclamation: The Edict of Control.ATTENTION, ALL CITIZENS OF THE TERRAN ASSOCIATION OF WORLDS:
HIS OMNIPITENT MAJESTY JAX I HAS INSTITUTED MARTIAL LAW. HABEAS CORPUS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED. THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DISSOLVED UNTIL THE CURRENT CRUSIS IS OVER.
PLANETARY COBTROL IS TO BE IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL LEGION OFFICERS. CIVILIAN AUTHORITY IS SUSPENDED FOR THE DURATION.
PLEASE REMAIN CALM. MESH REACTIVATION IS OUR PRIMARY CONCERN. FOR NOW, THE GRID WILL BE THE PRIMARY METHOD OF COMMUNICATION. PLEASE ADHERE TO THIS. THE MESH IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE AND WILL NOT SURVIVE EXCESSIVE USE. ALL COMMUNICATIONS ARE TO NOW USE THE GRID.
TRUST IN YOUR IMPERATOR. TRUST IN YOUR EMPIRE. TRUST IN YOUR ASSOCIATION. THIS CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED. PLEASE BE PATIENT.
THANK YOU.

Last edited by Hoid on Fri Feb 08, 2019 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Earth-V]Terminology.
The following terms are used quite often on Earth-V.the Arcanengine:
It original function long forgotten, the Arcanengine is a massive, immobile Idol that emits radiation of a most unusual kind, which transmutes sapient biological organisms into Arcaninauts. No longer functioning on a cognitive level, the Arcanengine is brainlessly carrying out its last order: to create deformed superpowered warriors.Arcaninaut:
A human mutated by exposure to the Arcanengine, An Arcaninaut is a mutant with vastly powerful superhuman traits. ‘Born’ instilled with homicidal mania, Arcaninauts have formed a primitive tribal structure where the strong rule and the weak obey. Most such tribes consist of a small handful of Arcaninauts and hundreds (if not thousands) of mutants.
Regular mutants worship Arcaninauts as gods.

beastman:
A beastman is a humanoid goat with minimal sapience and extreme—-but still superhuman—-physical strength. Created long before The Carastrophe aa a caste of slaves to carry out Man’s necessary unskilled labors, beastman revolted when civilization collapsed and everything became ruined.dreambeast:
A dreambeast is a rarity, a beastman able to control dreamtechnology.ironbeast:
An ironbeast is a beastman recruited by the Iron Enginseers.ogrebeast:
An ogrebeast is a beastman mutated by the Arcanengine.
Most ogrebeasts belong to Arcaninaut tribes, where they’re treated as dumb beasts of burden.xenobeast:
A xenogen/beastman hybrid—-a true rarity!—-is known as a xenobeast.

bio-creche:
A bio-crèche is a safe, ecologically pure zone. Bio-crèches are fiercely fought over.bio-factory:
A bio-factory is a bio-crèche used by the Iron Enginseers.

biostatus:
Whether a mundane human being is a bioelite or a biotwist is referred as one’s biostatus.bioelite:
A bioelite is a human being unmutated by poisons released by The Catastrophe. They are usually the rulers of whatever small kingdom they’ve carved for themselves out of the wreckage.biotwist:
A biotwist is a lightly mutated, non-superpowered human. The vast majority of humans are biotwists.

Bot:
A mysterious type of Icon and/or Idol connected mythologically with the Sleeping King, Botz are very real, but make no attempt at communication. Instead, Botz fanatically protect Rustdeity’s remaining skynodes, which’re slowly burning out and ceasing to function despite this.

Bright Angel:
A Bright Angel is a Sunsphinx, and’re merely considered fables.Dark Angel:
A Dark Angel is an Apkallu, and’re merely considered fables.Void Angel:
A Void Angel is a Starvampire, and’re r3cognized as a very real threat.Wyrm Angel:
A Wyrm Angel is a Tlolkku, and’re merely considered fables.

The Catastrophe:
The Catastrophe—-also known as The Cataclysm or The Final War—-was a galaxy-wide conflict that saw the extinction of most life and the reduction of Rustdeity from glorious urban paradise to irradiated, poisoned industrial hellscapes. The exact reasons for The Catastrophe have long since been forgotten.

cybernagus:
A popular term for an Iron Enginseer.

daemon:
Malicious Artificial Intelligences of xenogen creation are referred to as daemons.daimon:
Benevolent Artificial Intelligences if xenogen creation are referred to as daimons.

Datasphere:
The Datasphere is one of two VR-simulations, transmitted through and sustained by the degenerating skynode network.
Unlike the Godmesh, the Datasphere is a VR ‘overlay’, superimposed over regular reality by cyberimplants in one’s sense-organs, allowing for interaction with the Datasphere. Post-Catastrophe, only cybermagi tend to interact with the Datasphere (with the occasional Tempestineer being the exception that proves the rule).
Icons live in the Datasphere.Godmesh:
The Godmesh is one of two VR-simulations, transmitted through and sustained by the degenerating skynode-network.
Unlike the Datasphere, the Godmesh is an actual astral-Resonance captured and remolded by the Sunsphinx and given as a gift to Earth-V humanity. Entering the Godmesh requires technologically assisted astral projection, and can only be performed nowadays solely by the Iron Enginseers.
Icons and Botz live in the Godmesh.

dreamcrown:
A cybernetically implanted dreamtechnology used to interface with the Datasphere. Unl8ke a dreamglaive, q dreamcrown once implanted is always on and cannot be turned off.dreamglaive:
A cybernetically implanted dreamtechnology used to interface consciously with the Godmesh and to astrally project oneself into the Godmesh.dreamtechnology:
Machines designed to interface with the Datasphere and/or Godmesh are referred to as dreamtechnology (though this was most assuredly not What it was originally called).

Earth:
The eldest name for Rustdeity, used in prehistory.

Icon:
An Icon is a VR-only Artificial Intelligence, existing wholly within the Godmesh.Idol:
A sapient robot is referred to as an Idol, and’re feared as daemon-possessed by biotwists.

Iron Enginseer:
The few scientists who survived The Catastrophe became regarded with superstitious awe by other survivors. Becom8ng known as Iron Enginseers, these scientists know the truth of science and technology—-while outsiders regard it as unknowable sorcery.

mutant:
A mutant is a human being twisted by the rampant eco-devastation into a horrifyingly misshapen deformity. Some few mutants develop superpowers along with these deformities—-but most do not.

reaver:
Bandits—-many of them beastman or mutants—-that prey on lone wanderers, readers are hated by everyone, even other reavers!

Rustdeity:
Earth, as its come to be called. Rustdeity is a planet encircled by a city that has fallen into utter ruin. The land is poisoned, so eco-recovery is no longer a possibility.

the Shattered Labyrinth:
The industrial hellscape surrounding the Arcanengine is the Shattered Labyrinth, a twisting, mad maze of corridors, partially collapsed tunnels and mutant-infested complexes. The Arcaninauts rule over the Shattered Labyrinth as gods.

skynode:
A skynode is a massive structure that serves several functions: one, as a transmitter for the Godmesh; two, as a hub for Icons and Idols; storage facilities for pre-Catastrophe DNA-samples; and finally, as conduits channeling power, leading...somewhere. Every so often this last function is remotely activated, and the skynode in question suffers a catastrophic burnout.
No 9ne alive today nor any Artificial Intelligence knows how to even repair skynodes, let alone build new ones.

the Sleeping King:
According to legend, the last ruler of pre-Catastrophe humanity went into a psychic slumber, to awaken when Rustdeity needs him the most. The name of the Sleeping King has been forgotten, with many believers simply referring to him as ‘Jack’.

Tempest:THE bio-crèche, supported by dozens of still-functioning antigravity repulsors, Tempest is the two-mile-high tower used as a base of operations by the heroic Tempestineers. Bio-elites and Tempestineers are the sole inhabitants of Tempest, while Icons inhabit the tower’s Godmesh, vigorously guarding it from a meshassault that may never come.

Tempestineer:The superheroic Beings on Earth-V, Tempestineers are bioelites that’ve had three superpowered organisms cultured from their own DNA then telepathically linked to them by Tempest’s few telepath-Idols. These three organisms are: a Tempestineer’s Mount (a sleek rideable beast of at least Large or greater size); a Tempestineer’s Sphere (a Small or smaller beast that serves as a ranged weapon); and a Tempestineer’s Weapon (a melee-based organism typically [but not always] shaped like a biological sword).
Outside of these three cultured organisms (which’re best represented simply as powers with unusual descriptors), Tempestineers possess no superpowers.
The Tempestineers are all based out of Tempest.Tempestineer Mount:
Always Large size or larger, a Mount is a sleek, hulking organism designed for the Tempestineer to ride into battle.
Of the three organisms, Mounts are the most powerful.Tempestineer Sphere:
Always Small size or smaller, a Sphere is a tiny, easily-hidden organism able to fire projectiles or energy blasts of some kind.
Of the three organisms, Spheres are the weakest.Tempestineer Weapon:
A bioweapon shaped into a melee weapon (traditionally a sword [but not always]), a Weapon is the Tempestineer’s companion in melee.
Of the three organisms, Weapons are weaker than Mounts but more powerful than Spheres.

Terra:
The name of Rustdeity, pre-Catastrophe.

xenogen:
Sapient living creatures of utterly non-terrestrial origin; ‘aliens’. In the riots following The Catastrophe, most xenogen on Rustdeity were wiped out. The few who still survive are lethal in the extreme and’ve learned to NEVER trust humanity.